The weather was perfect here in Orlando yesterday so I ventured out to Epcot to sample some of the many offerings at the 2017 Food & Wine Festival.

The year I was hired at Walt Disney World the Food and Wine Festival was only two years old!  Back then the samples ranged from $1 -$5.  It took at least two separate visits to sample everything, because you were drunk and full half way around World Showcase!  These days things are a bit pricier, averaging about $5 per sample.

I started my afternoon off with a visit with the Main Mouse himself, Mickey!  Sometimes my favorite part of character greetings is watching the characters interact with other guests.  On this visit I got quite the giggle out of watching Mickey insist a newly engaged couple pose kissing while he stood next to them covering his eyes.  It was very cute!

After my audience with Mickey I ventured into World Showcase.  Each year I like to try the new offerings at the booths, and of course there are some great favorites that come back each year.

I started my culinary journey at Thailand. This booth is new this year, and I had spoken to a friend who said I must try it.  I chose the Shrimp and Scallop Cake with Cold Noodle Salad.  I must say I really enjoyed this.  The portion was nice sized and very flavorful!  It had a very “dim sum” feel to it.

Next up was the Pork and Wasabi Shumai in Japan.  Yes, you read that correctly, shumai in Japan.  I asked the young ladies from Japan working the booth if this was a common dish in Japan, as it is traditionally a Chinese dim sum dish.  The looked rather confused, smiled, and nodded their heads yes.   Not sure if  I buy it, however the dish was very flavorful and light.  I loved the addition of wasabi, it gave it a bright kick!

A oldie but goodie in my book is the Fresh Potato Pancake with Scottish Salmon and Herbed Sour Cream at the Scotland booth.  I love the mixture of flavors and textures you get from this dish.  The crunchy potato pancake, with the savory and buttery salmon, topped with the cool herbed cream.  It just a little bit of heaven.

My final stop for the day was at Spain.  Here I chose the Paella with shrimp, chicken, mussels, and chorizo.  I also chose to try the dessert offering which was an Olive Oil cake topped with Powered Sugar and  Lemon Curd!  The cake was amazing!  So much so that I plan on hunting  down the recipe!

For a complete list of all the menus and pictures of the dishes I highly recommend visiting the Disney Food Blog.

While wandering across the bridge between France and the UK I ran into Remy!  I had to stop and say hi, it would have been rude not to!

The sunsets at Epcot from the bridge between China and the African Outpost are the best!

I spent the rest of the evening wandering and taking photos.  Epcot has always been my favorite park, and one of the things I love most about this park is that I notice new things, and new angles that I never noticed before.  I find that most of us look straight ahead when visiting places.  I’ve started looking up, down, and sideways!  It’s amazing what I find!  I am by no means a photographer, however I find taking pictures a lot of fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illuminations is near and dear to my heart.  I remember when this version of the show debuted in late 1999 for the Millennium Celebration.  It was the first time in my memory that Disney actually choreographed the music to the fireworks perfectly.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI2kGw0i6MI

It was a great afternoon and evening at Epcot.  If you haven’t experienced the Food & Wine Festival do it!  It’s a great opportunity to be adventurous and explore some great new foods!